Mule back duster



Oct. 2, 1928. 1,686,317

E. J. FEENY MULE BACK DUSTBR T rug-1 nm L 1299 Sheet 1 z l INVENTOR. /dmaUM/ ffl/72j,

BYv

Oct. 2, 1928.

E. J. FEENY MULE BACK Dus'rlana Filed oct. 4. 1922 :s sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTO EY.

oct. 2,1928. I 1,686,317

E. J. FEENY MULE4 BACK DusTER Filed oct. 4. 1922 :s sheets-sheet 3 Y l NV EN TOR.

` ATToRN l Patented 9ct.A 2, 1928i.

EDMND 5. FENY, OF MUNCIE, INDIANA. i

MULE BACK BESTER.

Application Vfiled October 4,1922. Serial No. 592,274,

In fighting the increasingly menacing boll weevil in the cotton fields, it has been found that calcium arsenate is perhaps the most effective agent; but great difficulty has been experienced in' applying this in an effective manner suitable for vcotton field conditions. in order to make the calcium arsenate effective, it has been found necessary to dust it over the cotton plants so that they will be enveloped in a cloud of this dust; and to do this in such a` manner that the dust will be taken up by the dew on the cotton which dew the boll weevil drinks. Therefore, it is ordinarily necessary to dust the cotton fields at night, when the dew `is on them.

Attempts have been made to do this by hand blowers; but the labor required is's'o great that it is not a. 'practical method for large areas. Attempts have also been made to dust the fields by power driven blowers on vehicles but this is found to be unsuitable for universal cotton field dusting, because of the weight of the vehicles, which often can not be drawn through the mud and water, frequently hub deep, in the cotton-fields, and

were not readily adapted for use between the rows of cotton.

ltis the object of my present invention to provide a dusting devicel which is suitable for cotton-field dusting-olii a large scale, and which uses fundamentally those units of. transportation and labor which are inost available for and adapted to cotton-field work-in othenwords, to pro-vide a duster which is carried on the Vback of a mule and operated by a man riding the mule; for a mule and a negro form this natural unit of'translportation and labor mo-st suitable for cotton field cultivation. y

ln carrying out my invention, therefore, l

provide, fundamentally, a mule-back duster.'

This in general comprises a container-arranged to be carried on the back of the mule, preferably by resting on his withers or on the pominel of the saddle, and one or more blowers associated with this container and operated by the rider for discharging the calcium arsenaee through downwardly directed tubes at the sides of the mule for dusting the rows of cotton between which the mule walks. The duster is preferablyA strapped to the rider to facilitate his operation of the blowers.

l/Vhil'e my invention is primarily and eX- pressly designed for dusting cotton fields with calcium arsenate, it is by no means limplants,

ited tothat particular use, but can of. course be used wherever it is suitable.

The .accompanying 'drawingsillustrate' my invention: Fig. 1 is a vertical transverse sectionthrough a dusterjembodying my invention, with the discharge tubesbroken away, the section being taken on the line 1-41 of Fig.- 2, looking towardthe rear; Fig. 2'is ak verticalseetion onthe lineZ-Q of Fig. 1;` Fig. 3 is avertical sectionkon the line 3-3 ofvFig. 1 Fig. 4: is a perspective View of my mule-back cluster in use, with the associated mule and rider; Fig. 5 is any-enlarged View of the controlling shutter which controls the inlet of the powdered calcium arsenate to the blower, land which is shown in the lower part of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the complete duster; Fig. 7 is a detail 0f the stir- .rer on the blower shaft for preventing cohesion ofthe powdered' calcium arsenate into a mass; Fie'. 8 is a fragmentary section `on the line 8 8 of 6, showing a modified mounting used when the duster is carried on the pommel of a saddle;l and Fig. 9 is a front view of the carrying pin used in the modification sho-wn in Fig. 8', inits position on the saddle. f

The duster has al main casing 10', which serves as a container for the calcium arsenate 11 and is provided at the vtop Vwith `a hinged door 12. This casing' is preferably arranged to'be attached tothe rider 18 of the mule 14. by straps 15 which go over the ridersashoulders like Suspenders and are crossedat his. back, and at their'ends have'hooks 16 attachable to suitable fittings 17 on the casing 10.y

Two centrifugall blowers 2O are provided in Y the lower part of the casingglO, each blower having' its own separate casing. 21 which in part forms the bottom', of lthe powder-containing chamber and in part projects beyond' s the Outlines 0f the main casing 10, asis clear fromFigs. 2, 3,' and 4. Thetwo blowers 20 are preferably on a common transverse axis,

so that they have alined operating shafts 22'; which may project into proximityto each other through the ad] acent walls of the two blower casings 21.. These two shafts 22 are.

preferablyl normally independent of each. other in their operation, so that either may be operated without 'the other; but the two, shafts may be connected if desired,y preferably by a separable coupling provided be-- tween their adjacent ends by a slotted sleeve 23 carried by one of said shafts and rotatable therewithbut slidable therealong so thatthe slot'in the sleeve embraces a cross pin 24pm 'I lui two shafts.

the other of said shafts to interconnect the `'Each of the blowers 20 has a fan blade 25 fixed on its operating shaft, which fan blade as sho-wn consists of a strip of sheet Y metal which extends substantially diametri-A eally across the blower casing 2l onone side of theoperating shaft and has attached there to the ends of a shorter strip 26 which extends on the opposite side of said operating shaft,

as is clear from'Fig.f3,so that the shaft will be between the two strips of sheet metal, both of which are fastened to the shaft by coininon f which openings rair isV drawn in by the rota tionof the :tan blades. The air-inlet openings28 surround ai bearing 29 for one end of the operating shaft 22 of that blower, which bearingv 29V is within a small bearing-casing' 30 to which oil may be supplied by an oil tube 31 lying substantially radially along the end wallvof the blower casing 2l, as is clear from Figs. 4 and 8. n

AEach blower casing 2l is provided with a Vdownwardly ydirected outlettube 35, through which air isforced by the operation of the associated fan `25.` The two outlet tubes 35 project downward on opposite sides V' of the Vniule 14, as is clear from Fig. 4, and

are connected by flexible tubes 36 with downward extensions 37 having discharge heads 38 at their lower ends, from vwhich discharge heads 38 the calcium arsenate is discharged in a sheet which as the mule walks forward formsa cloud completely enveloping the cotton plants 39 of the rows between which the niule is walking. rlhe flexible tubes 36 perr` mit the extensions 37 and discharge heads 38 to swing out of the way. of any solid obstructions which theymay encounter.

Between the two out-let pipes 35 of the two blowers the duster is vsupported on the back of the mule. Ordinarily, this support is ob vtained by'a cross strap 40 which atits middle rests uponthe withers of the mule and at its ends is attached by clamps 4i to the lower ends ofthe two outlet pipes 35,v as is lclear from Fig. 4. Thisl provides a very satisfactory mounting, since it not only carries the weight of the duster but ati-the saine time allows theV duster to swing on the back of the vmule to accommodate the inoveinentsof the rider 13. In seine instances, however, it may l bepreferred `to niount the ouster on the poniinel of the riders saddle`42, in which ease the construction shown in Figs. 8 and 9 may be used. ln that modified mounting, the lower wall of the air-supply space 27 may have a casting 43 riveted thereto, which casting has a downwardly opening socket .t4-which receives an upwardly projecting pin 45 forni- Ving part of a casting 46 which is attached by bolts 47 to the poininel of the saddle 42. The pin 45 and socket 44 are preferably polygonal in cross-section, as ig. 9 shows the pin, to prevent the duster from turning 'on the sad` die. Fi s. 3 and 9 is used the rider ina use the I y 7 1 ,Y bracing straps lo ornotas ne desires, as the duster is rigidly held'oii the mule without beine' stra ioed to the rider.

t 1 L I. The biower shafts 22 are driven from driving shafts 50, of which there is one for each blower. These drivin@ shafts 50 are orefer-A ably'alined with the blower shafts 22. These `driving shafts 50 project out from the two sides of the duster, is clear from Figs. i, 4, and G, and are there provided with operating cranh-liaiidles 5l. in convenient position to be turned by the two hands of He can use both handsfor operating the blower, with each hand separately driving its own blower, so that'the blowers can be controlled separately. Thisr use of both When the duster mounting shown inr the rider' i3. 'Y

hands is readily possible when using the orf dinary field mule, as the inule will wall; the path between rows without ordinarily requiring the rider 13 to guide liini by the bridle 52; and at the end of the row the rider can easily reach the bride for turning the mule to start hini back between two other. rows.

' The shafts 50 project through the lower parts of downward feed-chutes 55, provided in the two lateral ends of the casing 2O between the lateral enel walls of said casing and the outer end walls of the blower casings, 2l.

these feed-chutes 55 and surrounds the shafts 50; and frein the lower ends of these feed- The calcium arsenate is fed down through'V chutes 55 the calcium arseiiate is discharged into the blower casings 2l through openings 56 in the end walls-ofv said blower casings. These openings 56 are preferably arranged at intermediate points on radii of the blower casing, too far outward to be subject to suction and too far inward to'be subject to'pressure by the air movement created by the fan blades 25. In consequence, the calcium arsenate will pass through the holes 56substantially free from any interference from pressure or` suction; but when once within the blower casings will be caught by the rotating blades 25 andthrown out with the air streain through the outlet pipes .35.

' In order to control the quantity of calcium arsenate used, i vary the effective size of the openings 55, by` a valve plate 57 rotatably .ad-

justable about each shaft 5() by an upwardly extending' rod 58, which at its upper endk projects horizontally through an arc-shaped slot in a clamping plate 59 within the casing l0; and on suchlaterally proj ectingend 'provide a lrnurled clamping nut 50 by which th-e rod 58 may be clamped in any desired position.

The lower part of the valve plate 5'? is pro'- vided with o enino's corres ondinf with the iio `axis of the shafts 22 and 50 and ca openings 56, and movable more or lessl into registry therewith by the adjustment of they ends of each of whic-h are slightly separated and project into holes extending transversely through the associated driving shafts 50v and' longitudinally displaced from each -other along such shaft. One end of' each loop ex-` tends completely through the associated shaft 50i, and the projecting part isbent to hold the loop in? place asV the i shaft is` rotated'- The loop hasl one part which sweeps over the holes 56 Vin close proximity thereto, and forces powder through such holes as it sweeps; and the other parts of the stirrer keep the powder from sticking together into one coherent mass. The stirrer loops are notl rigidly mounted in their c arrying shafts 50, however, so that if they encounter anything solid, they may yield resiliently, as shown in Fig. 7, by turning about an intermediate axis transverse to the shaft 50 and between the two loop-ends, producing a slight twisting of the wire of the loop as the two, loop ends which project through the shaft are displaced from the plane of the loop as the latter is turned, so that by the resiliency of the wire the loop will be swung back into its normal plane as soon as it has passed by the resisting object which it encountered.' Preferably a remov' able cap 62 is provided at the lower end of the feedfchute 55 and carries a bearing for the outer end `of the associated driving shaft 50. By the removal of this cap 62,` after first removing the crank-handle 51, access is obtained to the lower end of the feed-chute, for inspection, cleaning, and repair.

Each driving shaft 50 is suitably connected to the associated blower shaft 22 by a speedincreasing gearing, so that the fan 25 will be rotated at a speed greatly in excess of that of the driving shaft 50, in order to get the desired flow of air. This speed-increasing gearing is preferably mounted in a gearingf housing 65, preferably cylindrical, and preferably of the same size as the removable cap 62 so that both can be made as from the same stampings. The gearing-housing 65, however, has its axis displaced upward from the 62, so that its lower part will be above the oles 56 which admit the calcium arsenate into the blower casing, as isvclear from Fig. 1. Thel speed-increasing gearing consists of a main driving gear 66 on that end of the shaft 50 which is within the gearing-housing 65; which driving gear 66 meshes with a pinion 67 on a stud shaft 68 supportedin the gearing-housing 65; rotatable with which pinion and the rider turns the two cranks 51. calcium arsenate is fed down through theY feed chutes 55 and forced through the *holesy 56 by the stirrers 61., This powder thus 67 onv the shaft 68 is a gear 69 which meshes 'l with. pinion 70 on another stud shaft 71 mounted within the gearing-housing 65; and

a gear 72 is rotatable withthe pinion 70 on j the stud shaft 71 and meshes with a pinion` 7 3 on the blower shaft 22. The three gears 6 6, 69, and 72 may all be similar, and the three pinions 67, 7 O, and 73may also all be similar.

VThe gear 66, however, is preferably of twicev the thickness lof Athe gears 69' and 72, for

greater strength, and maybe formedby putj ting two thinner gearstogether; and these two gears are rivetedv on the end of the shaft 50, as is clear from Fig. 1, so that the riveted endl ofsaid shaft 50m=ay serve as an abutment for the adjacent vend of the blowerV shaft 22'.Y This makes a speed-increasinggearing hav.l ing a ratio which is the cube of the ratio of so"l the. number of teeth of onev of the gears; to

that.V of one,l of the pinions, and makes:v it. possible for the operator to get a very effective fan-speed bya relatively slow turning movementof the handles 51. The adjacent ends of the shafts 50 and 22are mounted in suitable bearings in the end walls of they gearing-housing 65, which gearing-housing is preferably packed with lubricant for lubricating both the bearings and the gears. Additional lubricant maybe supplied to the gearing-housing 65 when necessary, by irst removing a closing cap 7 4 in the wall between the gearing-housing and the feedfchute; access being obtained to this cap 74 by first removing thevcap 62. n Y

In operation, `the duster is mounted in front of the rider 13v and like him is astride of the mule 14. The calciumV arsenate being placed within the main casing 10, the mulev is started down between two rows of cotton, The

forced into the blowercasings through such holes is picked up by the rapidly rotating fans 25 and thrown outward with the str-cam j of air (drawnl in through the holes 26) through the outlet pipes 35, flexible tubes 36,

of the cotton plants for the boll weevil ;"which drinks the dew thus saturated with cium arsenate, and dies.v

If for any reason anything goes wrong with the apparatus,'even an unskilled laborer can get access to all the necessary parts, and

the calcanreadily cure the difficulty. He cannot get access to the interior of the blower or the gearing, which are expressly designed to that end; but by opening the lid 12 and removing arsenate and to the entire path thereofy up to Y tainer; andydischarging it through said two the point oi entrance into the. blower casing. The whole device may be operated and 1nain- Atained'by negro labor; and it inaT be operated underthe inost adverse conditions of swamp and mud encountered in cotton-fields, as the inule is substantiallygthe only unit of transportation which can travel under the conditions `frequently encountered.

I claim as my invention: Y K. l. A mule-back cluster, comprising a container arranged Vfor mounting on the back of a mule and provided with projecting dis-V charge tubes at the sides of the mule, two blowers for receiving powder :from said condischarge tubes-respectively, "two operating lhandles arranged for-operation by the vtwo hands of the rider of the mule and connected 2. A device of the character described com- 'Y prising a liousingga partition dividing said iouslng into a blower compartment and an insecticide compartment, a fan mounted `1n the blower compartment, a shaft extending' longitudinally '01 said housing, a gearing adapted to be drlven by said shaft for the purpartnient, and a gear housing for supporting said gearing, said gear housing being car` ried by the partition of the first-mentioned housing.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto vset my hand, at Indianapolis, indiana, rthis second day of October, A. D. one thousand nine hundred and twenty-two.y

EDMUND J. FEENY.

pose of driving the fan in the blower com- 

